Tanker sank freighter "Thorco Cloud"- six missing
The cargo ship sank in the afternoon of Dec 16, 2015, off Singapore after it collided with the "Stolt Committment", which was enroute from Singapore to Kaoshiung at that time, 11 km north-west of Batam. Six out of 12 crew members have been rescued so far, five by the Coastguard and one by the tanker, and a rescue operation was underway.
Two patrol craft were deployed by the MPA for search and rescue operations. The Police Coast Guard (PCG) also deployed five boats. Indonesian authorities were also alerted of the incident by the MPA and have commenced search and rescue operations.
The MPA was assisting the Indonesian authorities to survey and mark the sunken freighter to ensure navigational safety. The MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to keep clear of the area and to report any sightings of the missing crew members.
There was no disruption to shipping traffic or reports of any oil spills in the Singapore Strait, said the MPA. Still, the MPA has readied anti-pollution craft on standby.
Two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were also dispatched. The SCDF has conveyed the six rescued crew members to Singapore General Hospital. The crew of the cargo vessel came from the Philippines and from Eastern Europe. Their families have been informed.
The "Thorco Cloud" had just sailed from Batu Ampar when the accident occurred. The ship was primarily loaded with steel and was en route from Japan to West Africa and furhter on to South America. The course of the two ships crossed each other. The "Thorco Cloud" ran into the starboard side of the "Stolt Committment".
The tanker slowed down and altered course to starboard just before the collision, which occurred at 12:13 GMT. The "Stolt Commitment" then drifted backwards for about an hour before the engine faileed, and the ship dropped anchor shortly after. The "Thorco Cloud" went on for a few minutes before she sank. She had on board 560 metric tonnes of bunker fuel.
Update: Four Filipinos and two Ukrainians still missingFour Filipinos and two Ukrainians were still missing after the sinking of the "Thorco Cloud" six miles north-west of Batamon Dec at 8:14 p.m. LT in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. Navigational broadcasts were made to all ships to keep a lookout for the missing crew. The six rescued crew members which were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital were in stable condition. Representatives of the JSM Shipping GmbH & Co KG in Jork would be in touch with the rescued crew members. While there were no reports of any oil spill, the MPA has also put on standby anti-pollution craft. To ensure shipping safety, the MPA deployed a buoy tender and a hydrographic survey vessel to cordon off the area. The bow of the wreck was still showing above water.
The cargo ship sank in the afternoon of Dec 16, 2015, off Singapore after it collided with the "Stolt Committment", which was enroute from Singapore to Kaoshiung at that time, 11 km north-west of Batam. Six out of 12 crew members have been rescued so far, five by the Coastguard and one by the tanker, and a rescue operation was underway.
Two patrol craft were deployed by the MPA for search and rescue operations. The Police Coast Guard (PCG) also deployed five boats. Indonesian authorities were also alerted of the incident by the MPA and have commenced search and rescue operations.
The MPA was assisting the Indonesian authorities to survey and mark the sunken freighter to ensure navigational safety. The MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to keep clear of the area and to report any sightings of the missing crew members.
There was no disruption to shipping traffic or reports of any oil spills in the Singapore Strait, said the MPA. Still, the MPA has readied anti-pollution craft on standby.
Two Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were also dispatched. The SCDF has conveyed the six rescued crew members to Singapore General Hospital. The crew of the cargo vessel came from the Philippines and from Eastern Europe. Their families have been informed.
The "Thorco Cloud" had just sailed from Batu Ampar when the accident occurred. The ship was primarily loaded with steel and was en route from Japan to West Africa and furhter on to South America. The course of the two ships crossed each other. The "Thorco Cloud" ran into the starboard side of the "Stolt Committment".
The tanker slowed down and altered course to starboard just before the collision, which occurred at 12:13 GMT. The "Stolt Commitment" then drifted backwards for about an hour before the engine faileed, and the ship dropped anchor shortly after. The "Thorco Cloud" went on for a few minutes before she sank. She had on board 560 metric tonnes of bunker fuel.
Update: Four Filipinos and two Ukrainians still missingFour Filipinos and two Ukrainians were still missing after the sinking of the "Thorco Cloud" six miles north-west of Batamon Dec at 8:14 p.m. LT in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. Navigational broadcasts were made to all ships to keep a lookout for the missing crew. The six rescued crew members which were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital were in stable condition. Representatives of the JSM Shipping GmbH & Co KG in Jork would be in touch with the rescued crew members. While there were no reports of any oil spill, the MPA has also put on standby anti-pollution craft. To ensure shipping safety, the MPA deployed a buoy tender and a hydrographic survey vessel to cordon off the area. The bow of the wreck was still showing above water.